Area 51: "Paramount has tapped Dean Georgaris to script thriller "Area 51" and produce with partner Michael Aguilar under their Penn Station banner along with Christine Peters and Midway Games. Deal comes two weeks after Paramount announced it had acquired the feature rights to Midway's "Area 51" videogame and set the project up with Peters..." (more info).

Ikiru: ""In America" director Jim Sheridan has signed on to direct "Ikiru," the DreamWorks remake of the 1952 Akira Kurosawa film that is being crafted as a potential starring vehicle for Tom Hanks. Sheridan will shoot "Ikiru" in Gotham. It's the story of a low-level bureaucrat who discovers that after 30 years in the same job, he's contracted stomach cancer. Determined to seek more from the remaining moments of his life, the man initially seeks out decadent pursuits before deciding he wants to leave behind something memorable..." (more info).

The Know-It-All: "Radar Pictures has optioned Esquire senior editor A.J. Jacobs' upcoming book "The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World," which Barry Sonnenfeld will direct and produce. Book, to be published by Simon & Schuster Oct. 1, is the real story of Jacobs' decision to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in an effort to deal with post-college intellectual decay, impending fatherhood and the fear of never amounting to anything extraordinary..." (more info).

xXx: State of the Union: "Coming off the most crowded summer on record, Sony Pictures will try to kick off the summer season next year in late April with "XXX: State of the Union," which has been moved to April 29 from May 13. Move of the "XXX" sequel (original grossed $142 million in 2002 with an Aug. 9 release) shows that as studios ponder the increasing crowded summer calendar, they feel more comfortable moving into late April rather than late August..." (more info).

Basic Instinct 2: "After a tumultuous development history, "Basic Instinct 2" is back on track with Michael Caton-Jones in negotiations to direct the sequel to the 1992 murder mystery. The move comes within two months of the producers, C-2, settling a lawsuit with actress Sharon Stone over their failure to produce the sequel, which was due to go into production in 2000..." (more info).

Doom: "Andrzej Bartkowiak ("Cradle 2 the Grave") is replacing Enda McCallion in the director's chair on the long-gestating video game adaptation "Doom." McCallion, who had been attached to the project through several recent incarnations, excused himself from the project for personal reasons, sources said..." (more info).

Fahrenheit 9/11: "Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which came roaring into theaters June 23, looks as if it won't disappear quietly. Although the record-breaking Lions Gate release has been steadily surrendering theaters as its long run winds down -- it played in 245 theaters last weekend -- the distributor is planning to reissue the movie September 24..." (more info).

Ride Along: "Chris Koch is going on a "Ride Along" for New Line Cinema. The director will helm the action comedy that's being produced by Larry Brezner through his MBST Entertainment shingle. "Ride" tells the story of a risk-averse teacher who plans to marry the girl of his dreams but first has to accompany his overprotective future brother-in-law, a tough cop, on a dangerous ride-along..." (more info).

The Bad News Bears: "Richard Linklater has signed on to direct "The Bad News Bears" for Paramount Pictures. Billy Bob Thornton is set to star in the remake of the 1976 Walter Matthau feature about a group of Little League misfits who are transformed into a winning team. Geyer Kosinski is producing "Bears," which is due to go into production in November..." (more info).

Aeon Flux: Stuart Townsend told LatinoReview that Charlize Theron's injury was a rather severe slipped disc sustained during some elaborate stunt work. She'll be out for about six weeks.

Battleship Potemkin: Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin will get a special screening in Trafalgar Sqauer with a new soundtrack composed by the Petshop Boys - see The BBC for details.

Confessions of a Sociopathic Social: Pics of Jennifer Love Hewitt on-set are up at HNR.

Downfall: The one-sheet is now up at Moviegod.

DVD News: Details are up for Hero, Bridget Jones Diary: SE,
LOTR: Return of the King - EE, Wild at Heart: SE.

E.R.: Noah Wyle, the last remaining original cast member, is leaving at the end of the season indicates CNN.

Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire : Jamie Waylett talks about filming to HPANA.

Hulk 2: IGN Filmforce have denied reports that Marvel have called Michael France in again to write a draft script for the second movie.

Pledge This!: Due to the hurricane they had to stop production for a few days, but they went back to filming yesterday. Filming will continue til mid-October on the Cheryl Guerriero and Anna Obropta-written, William Heins-directed project. More news is expected to be announced soon at the Toronto Film Festival.

Shall We Dance: The one-sheet for the J-Lo & Richard Gere starrer is at Blackfilm.

Shark Tale: A bunch of new images are up at Monsters & Critics.

Smallville (TV): KryptonSite reports that former Lois Lane star Margot Kidder will guest star in at least two episodes this season (the first and sixth episode so far) as Bridgette Crosby, the emissary of Christopher Reeve's character on the show, Dr. Virgil Swann.

Thanks to 'Gustavo', 'Kellvin', 'Kenny', 'Stax', 'Paul', 'Jeff' & 'Patrick'